Forming device



Feb. 23, 1932. w, MQRRISQN 1,846,349

FORMING DEVICE Filed July 29, 1929 HA6 ATTORNEY- Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FORMING DEVICE Application filed m 29, 1929. Serial No. 881,847.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in forming devices and more particularly to a forming device especially adapted for use in the forming of glass tubing and the like and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be efiicient in use and economical in manufacture.

The salient object of my invention is to I provide a forming tool which may be used in connection with the forming of glass tubing and the like which will be arranged in a manner which will permit a very rapid forming of the letter in order that but one heating of the tubing will be required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which will be arranged in a manner that will greatly facilitate the forming of glass 29 tubing into predetermined shapes which will embody an arrangement whereby portions of the glass tubing may be bent so that portions thereof will be superimposed above other portions and this consists in arranging the device so that portions thereof may be expeditiously moved to or from a position which will permit the carrying out of this object.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which will be particularly adaptable for use in connection with the forming of the letters employed in signs embodying the gas filled principle through which an electric current is passed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above described character which will be susceptible for use in connection with the formation of various letters and other indicia and to provide a device of the above described character which will embody operative portions which may be disposed in various locations required.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel conibination and arrangement of parts to be here inafter described. and claimed.

The invention will-be best. understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view depicting a preferred form of construction for my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking in the opposite direction from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 11 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmental elevational detail View looking in the same direction as Fig.

1 depicting a portion of the movable members of my device in closed position. E5 In the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of construction for my invention 10 generically indicates the forming block which may be formed from a suitable metal or analogous material. In one face of this forming block a semicircular groove is provided, which semicircular groove is arranged to extend over the face of the block so as to assume the outline of the member to be produced in the forming device and in the present instance I show such a groove which is generically in dicated by 11 as being arranged in the shape of the letter R. The groove 11 in the present instance includesa vertically extending portion 12 which has one end thereof on tended to one edge of the block 10. The other end of the portion 12 terminates in a horizontally extending portion 13 which is disposed adjacent the edge of the block 10 opposits that into which the portion 11 opens. The portion 13 terminates in a substantially semicircular portion 14- which semicircular portion 14 has at the end thereof opposite I that connected to the portion 13 a portion 15 which extends toward and terminates in juxtaposition to the portion 12 of the groove 11. It is manifest that this arrangement will produce a shape similar to the letter F. If, for example, the letter B were to be formed a portion similar to the portion 14 would be provided which would have. one end thereof arranged to join the portion 15 and the other end thereof would terminatein a V portion which would extend toward the end of the portion 11 which terminates in the edge of the block. However, in the present instance I show a groove 16 which extends from the portion 15 of the groove 11 clownwardly at an acute angle with respect to the portion 12 of the groove 11. and the end of this groove 16 is arranged at an edge of the block 10 extending at rightangles to the edge into which the portion 12 of the groove 11 opens. v

It is manifest that if a section of glass tubing or the like, which has been heated so as to be pliable, were disposed so that one end portion thereof wouldbe adjacent the end of the portion 12 of the groove 11 which terminates in the edge of the block 1O, the remaining portions thereof might be directed upwardly through the portion 12 into the portion 13 thence into the portion and into the portion 15. If the tubing were terminated at this point it is manifest that the letter P would be provided. However, where it is desired to form a letter such as the letter R from a single section of tubing it is manifest that this tubing must be bent so that a portion thereof will be superimposed above the portion in the groove 15 in order that a portion may be directed through the groove 16. It is manifest that the attainment of this latter is rather difficult by reason of the fact-that the tubing, when in such heated condition, readily flexes and I have, therefore, provided an improved arrangement which will greatly facilitate the bending of the tubing so as to provide this superimposed ortion.

In the block 10 on each side of the portion 15 of the groove 11 juxtaposed the portion 12 of said groove I provide openings 17 and 18. Forming blocks 19 and 20 are provided which include tail portions 21 and 22 which are extended through the openings 17 and 18 and which have blocks 23 and 24 fitted thereon adjacent the lower edge thereof, which blocks 23 and 24 prevent passage of the tail portions 21 and 22 back through the openings 17 and 18 and it is manifest that the forming blocks 19 and 20 include portions which define shoulders 25 and 26 and these shoulders 25 and 26 rest on one-face of the block 10 adjacent the openings 17 and 18 while the upper edges of the blocks 23 and 24 rest on the lower face of said block and it is, therefore, manifest that this arrangement very effectively positions the forming blocks 19 and 20 on the block 10. As is best illustrated in Fig; 4 the openings 17 and 18 are of a size suflicient to permit the blocks 19 and 20 to be moved LOWZlICl each other. The blocks 19 and 20 have formed in the faces thereof which may be moved into abutment with each other portions 27 and 28 which when the faces ofthe blocks are abutting provide a substantially semicircular groove; The portions 27 and 28 include, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, curved portions 29 and 30 which, when the faces of the blocks 19 and 20 are abutting, extend toward and are aligned with the groove 16.

The end of the portion 15 juxtaposed the portion 12 of the groove 11 is preferably arranged so as to have an upwardly curved section and. the ends of the portions 27 and 28 preferably embody at the ends thereof disposed toward the portion 12 another curved portion in order-that the heated tubing may be very expeditiously bent upwardly at the end of the portion 15 and then very expeditiously bent so as to extend throug the groove provided by the portions 27 and 28 and itis, therefore, manifest that the portions 29 andv 30 will greatly facilitate the bending of the tubing so that a portion thereof will extend through the groove 16.

It is manifest that the blocks 19 and 20 are arranged so that when they are moved into abutment with each other as above set forth the groove defined by the portions 27 and 28 will be aligned with the groove 15. However, in order that the blocks 19 and 20 will normally be disposed so as to disclose the groove 15 I provide springs 31 and 32 which extend between the block 10 and the tail portions 21 and 22 and which normally hold the blocks 19 and 20 in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. On the edge of the block 10 opposite that into which the groove 16 opens I provide an ear 32 which carries a stud 33. An arm 34 includes a handle portion 35 and a foot portion 36, which foot portion is suitably secured to the tail portion 21 of the block 19. The car 34 includes an intermediate portion 37 which is mounted on the stud 33 for pivotal movement. An arm 38 includes a handle portion 39 and a foot portion 40, which foot portion 40 is suitatbly secured to the lower end of the tail portion 22 of the block 20. The arm 38 includes an intermed iate portion 41 which is also mounted on the stud 33. It is manifest that the intermediate portions 37 and 41 are arranged so as to cross each other at the stud 33 and it is, therefore, manifest that when the handle portions 35 and 39 are gripped and moved toward each other and when the handle portions 35 and 39 are released the springs 31 and 32 will function to reposition the blocks 19 and 20 in a position substantially similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4.

Extending around the upper edges of the groove 11 are flanges 42 and 43 and similar flanges are also provided along the edges of the groove 16. In the present instance the flanges 42 and 43 are shown as being separate sections from the block 10 but it is to be understood that if desired these flanges'might be formed as portions of the block 10 without departing from the purview of my invention. These flanges greatly faciliate the disposing of the pliable tubing in the grooves since they afford very effective guiding surfaces. It is also apparent that the flanges 42 and 43 are not used along the portion of the groove 15 which extends between the blocks 19 and although it is manifest that the flanges might be provided at this point and the blocks suitably recessed to receive them but I have found that the flanges may be omitted in the region adjacent the blocks.

In use a section of tubing is heated so as to be pliable and an end thereof is arranged adjacent the end of the groove 12 and the remaining portions are then laid into the groove 12, the groove 13, the groove 14 and through the groove 15 and after the section of heated pliable tubing has been disposed in the groove 15 the handles and 39 are gripped to move the blocks 19 and 20 toward each other and, therefore, another groove will be defined by the portions 27 and :28 through which the tubing may then be extended and it is manifest that the curved portions 29 and 30 will facilitate the directing of the tubing into the groove 16. As soon as the tubing cools sufficiently so as to become set or hardened the same is removed and the above set forth operation is repeated.

It is manifest from the foregoing description that I have provided a construction which may very effectively be employed to form i ndicia from glass tubing and I have arranged this mechanism so that a superimposed portion may be readily formed to permit the indicia to be formed from a single section of tubing. It is manifest that this arrangement is such that uniform indicia will be produced and, therefore, the device may be very advantageously employed for the forming of letters and other indicia for use in filled signs.

l i hile I have set forth my invention in connection with the letter It it is to be understood that other letters might be formed in a similar manner and that forming blocks will be provided at the points at which it was necessary to retrace a portion of the letter in order that a crossing member may be provided.

llhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect this is capable ofvariation and modification, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character stated, a member having a groove formed in one face 7 thereof of a predetermined outline to provide a guide way, and means movable over a portion of said groove providing another groove thereabove whereby a portion of a member disposed in said first named groove may be superimposed above portions of said first named groove.

2. In a device of the character stated, a member having a groove formed therein of a predetermined shape, means movable over a portion of said groove to provide another groove thereabove, means for normally holding said last named means from position above said groove, and means for moving said means into position to provide said second named groove above said first named groove.

3. In a device of the character stated, a member having a groove formed therein of a predetermined shape, blocks movable over the face of said member having said groove therein, said blocks having portions therein providing another groove above a portion of said first named groove when said blocks are moved into abutting relation, means for normally holding said blocks apart, and means for moving said blocks into said abutting relation.

4:. In a device of the character stated, amember having a groove formed therein of a predetermined shape, said member having openings therein, members disposed in said openings including portions providing a groove above said first named groove when said members are moved into abutting relation, and means for slidably retaining said members in said openings.

5. In a device of the character stated, a member having a groove formed therein of a predetermined shape, said member having openings therein, members disposed in said openings including portions providing a groove above said first named groove when said members are moved into abutting relation, means for slidably retaining said members in said openings, yieldable means for normally holding said members apart, and means for moving said members into abutting relation against the action of said holdmg means.

6. A device for forming characters of glass tubing comprising a member having upstanding guiding flanges thereon of a predetermined configuration, and pivotally mounted means on said member for engaging a portion of the tubing during the forming operation, said means including pivotally mounted blocks for engaging a portion of a section of glass tubing in flexible, heated condition so that a portion of said tubing may be bent at a predetermined angle.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature. WALTER DEVLIN MORRISON. 

